Alex and Nell (Madigan) Sullivan

Alex and Nell (Madigan) Sullivan
Alex and Nell (Madigan) Sullivan in backyard of 18 N. Latrobe, Chicago, Illinois c1937

About Alex Sullivan and Nell Madigan

About Alex Sullivan and Nell Madigan

Alexander Aloysius Sullivan was born on March 24, 1880 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the seventh of ten children born to Philip J. Sullivan (1840-1915) and Ellen Connor (1848-1919). Ellen "Nell" Theresa Madigan was also born in Chicago, the second of seven children born to Patrick Madigan (c1850-1890) and Bridget "Bessie" Thompson (1855-1935). They married at St. Agatha's Catholic Church on August 20, 1907. They raised two children, Thomas Aloysius born July 7, 1908 (See also Sullivan/Carmody Blog) and Helen Mae born March 11, 1914 (See also McIntyre/Sullivan Blog), on the west side of Chicago. Alex, or "Al" as Nell called him, was a steamfitter his whole life. Al worked for Mehring and Hanson located at Jefferson and Randolph in Chicago. Mehring and Hanson eventually became Hill Mechanical which is still in business in Chicago today. Nell raised the two children and was a homemaker her entire life. Al was almost six feet tall, which for his time was quite tall. Nell, on the other hand, was only about five-feet-two inches and in her older years much shorter than that! Al and Nell both died at their home located at 18 North Latrobe in Chicago, Al on January 26, 1956 and Nell, ten years later, on January 21, 1966.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Memories of Nell Madigan Sullivan by her Daughter

Helen Sullivan McIntyre, over a period of 10 years, answered questions, glued pictures and in general wrote down her thoughts in a book/journal called The Story of a Lifetime.  Here are a couple of memories about her mother, Nell Sullivan.

What memories do you have of your mother during your childhood?

I had long curls, almost to my shoulders.  Every night before I went to bed she would curl my hair around her finger, then wrap the curls in a piece of white cloth and when I would wake up in the morning my curls were perfect.

Every Friday night I had to take a tablespoon of "syrup of figs" for my bowels.  I hated the taste and had a hard time swallowing it so my Father got some tiny pills instead.  I couldn't swallow the pills and kept spitting them out.  Mother would call Father into the bathroom and say "Al, make Helen swallow the pills!"

One Easter I was about 6 and Mother made my outfit.  It was a pretty blue silk coat with a white lace collar.  A pink straw hat with a fluffy blue feather that matched my coat, white shoes and stockings.  All the neighbors told Mother that I looked so cute but I never like the outfit, I felt too dressed up.  I think what got me was the feather.  Now it all sounds very pretty to me!

When I was 7, my cousin Mary Sullivan and I were flower girls for our cousin Evelyn Hoy's wedding.  Our Mothers made us white net dresses with ruffles.  Mine was the prettiest.  I had ruffles from the waist down with a big white stain sash and hair bow.  Mary only had about 4 ruffles and a smaller sash.  I thought my mother did the best job.

What interests did she have?  What were her hobbies and what did she do for fun?

She belonged to several clubs.  The Culture Club at the LaSalle Hotel, Friends of American Writers at the Edgewater Beach Hotel and one at the Stevens Hotel, I don't remember what that one was.  She had her Neighborhood Club, the North Side Club (friends that lived on the north side) and St. Thomas Aquinas Mother's Club.

She and my Father loved to go to the movies or see a play or ride up to Twin Lakes or Lake Geneva and maybe take a boat ride.

Which of your mother's physical and personality characteristics did you inherit? 

I don't think I inherited any of my mother's characteristics.  She was short, out-going, always ready to help, friendly, always on the go -- I was none of these things.

What else do you remember about her?

She was a bit impatient.  She wanted things done right away.  If it snowed a lot, she wouldn't wait for my Father to get home from work, she'd go out and do the shoveling herself.

One day my Father was supposed to paint the back porch and steps from the 2nd floor to the basement.  He had to work and said he'd do it next Saturday.  She didn't wait.  I came home from school and she had painted it all.  It looked very nice too!

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